Teddy Joseph Von Nukem
Von Nukem (left) with Peter Cvjetanovic (right) at Unite the Right rally, Charlottesville, Virginia, August 2017
Born
Ted Landrum

(1987-11-23)November 23, 1987
Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
DiedJanuary 30, 2023(2023-01-30) (aged 35)
Hartshorn, Missouri, U.S.
Cause of deathSuicide by gunshot
Known forWhite nationalism
Children5

Teddy Joseph Von Nukem (born Ted Landrum, November 23, 1987 – January 30, 2023) was an American white nationalist and far-right extremist, noted for his role at the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

In March 2021, Von Nukem admitted to attempted drug smuggling after being arrested at the Mexico–United States border. He failed to show up for a January 30, 2023, court appearance in Arizona, and died from a self-inflicted gunshot injury the same day.

Early life

Nukem was born Ted Landrum on November 23, 1987, in Phoenix, Arizona.[1][2][3] He was of German heritage and attended middle school in Lebanon, Missouri.[4][5] One of his former classmates remembered him as a "smart 'token goth kid' and 'highly intelligent' history buff with an unsettling interest in Nazi Germany".[5]

Adult life

Von Nukem was a far-right extremist and a white nationalist who changed his name to that of video-game character Duke Nukem in 2012.[6] A photograph of him holding a tiki torch at the Unite the Right rally became the image that was most commonly used to represent the 2017 right-wing protest in Charlottesville, Virginia.[5] In the photograph he stands next to a screaming man who was later identified as University of Nevada student Peter Cvjetanovic.[5] Journalist Molly Conger identified Von Nukem as part of a mob that assaulted DeAndre Harris, a Black counter-protester, at the Charlottesville event.[7][8][9]

Nukem owned a sales training company, AnCap Incorporated (a portmanteau of anarcho-capitalism), and aspired to be a Member of Congress.[5][10]

Lukeville Port of Entry

Nukem was arrested near the Mexico–United States border at Lukeville Port of Entry in March 2021;[10] U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents said he had 14 packages containing 33 pounds of fentanyl in his vehicle.[2][11] Von Nukem admitted attempting to smuggle drugs, but denied knowledge that the product was fentanyl.[12]

He failed to attend a scheduled Arizona District Court appearance on January 30, 2023, prompting judge Rosemary Márquez to issue an arrest warrant.[4][10] He was facing federal charges.[13] Within one hour, his wife telephoned the court to inform them of an emergency at the Von Nukem family home after finding his body in the snow behind a hay shed.[2][4][14] The case was dismissed on February 10, 2023.[4]

Von Nukem was married with four daughters and a son, and resided in Hartshorn, Missouri.[2][7] He was a supporter of libertarianism and Donald Trump, and believed that "white people are disadvantaged in the arena of identity politics."[6][5]

Death

Von Nukem killed himself at his home in Missouri on January 30, 2023.[10][12] His death occurred on the same day he was due to stand trial for drug-related criminal charges.[12] He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound from a handgun.[14] He was aged 35 at the time of his death.[10]

Marie Lasater, the Texas County coroner, confirmed his death was suicide.[13] His body was cremated after his funeral.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Obituary | Teddy Joseph Von Nukem of Hartshorn, Missouri | Bradford Funeral Home". February 12, 2023. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. 1 2 3 4 Jess, Steve (February 15, 2023). "White nationalist dies before Tucson trial". Arizona Public Media. Archived from the original on February 15, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  3. ↑ Labere, Lachlan (August 23, 2017). "Peaceful Nazi still a Nazi". The Vernon Morning Star.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Pagliery, Jose (February 14, 2023). "Charlottesville Tiki Torcher Killed Himself Before Drug Smuggling Trial". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on February 14, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Zhu, Alissa (August 16, 2017). "Southwest Missouri man identified as Charlottesville demonstrator in viral photo". Springfield News-Leader. Archived from the original on February 15, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  6. 1 2 Rossman, Sean (August 17, 2017). "This torch-wielding protester renamed himself after action-video game character Duke Nukem". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on February 15, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 Niemietz, Brian (February 15, 2023). "Far-right activist Teddy Von Nukem reportedly dead by suicide". Lawton Constitution. Archived from the original on February 15, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Far-right extremist at centre of 2017 Charlottesville march 'dies days before trial'". The Independent. February 15, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  9. ↑ Bella, Timothy (February 15, 2023). "Unite the Right marcher captured in viral photo dies by suicide before trial". The Washington Post.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Bella, Timothy (February 15, 2023). "Unite the Right marcher captured in viral photo dies by suicide before trial". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on February 15, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Extremista de direita no centro da marcha de Charlottesville em 2017 'morre dias antes do julgamento por tráfico de fentanil'". G7 News (in Brazilian Portuguese). February 15, 2023. Archived from the original on February 15, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 Sakar, Alisha Rahaman (February 15, 2023). "Far-right extremist at centre of 2017 Charlottesville march 'dies days before trial'". The Independent. Archived from the original on February 15, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  13. 1 2 "Southern Missouri man made famous by white supremacist rally photo dies at 35". KSMU Radio. February 15, 2023. Archived from the original on February 15, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  14. 1 2 Rose, Andy (February 16, 2023). "Man seen in photo at violent Charlottesville rally kills self on eve of trial on drug charges". CNN. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
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